Having enjoyed reading and learning from Whitehead's previous novel, the wildly successful The Underground Railroad, I was delighted to be approved for a review copy of this new work, The Nickel Boys. The stories share similarities in that they are both historical fiction that is firmly rooted in historical fact. The Nickel Boys takes place in 1960s 'Jim Crow' America which I have some understanding of thanks to reading biographies of Claudette Colvin and Carolyn Maull Mckinstry. I was prepared for The Nickel Boys to contain violent scenes, however I hadn't steeled myself enough for the sheer sadism that Whitehead depicts. I now have mental images which will take a long time to fade and feel that this story could sit as well in the horror genre as the historical fiction. I know child abusers all over the world have hidden themselves in 'schools' such as the Nickel Academy. The added layer of Southern racism here made this story at times almost unreadable.

I think The Nickel Boys is such a powerful read because Whitehead's writing style is always just restrained enough. His adult characters are chillingly real and I would be amazed to find anyone who can't empathise with Elwood's bewilderment at the way his promising future is so callously ripped from him. Even before he reaches the Nickel Academy though, I was shocked by acts such as the textbook vandalism. I have no doubt that this was - and possibly still is - widespread behaviour, but such mindless bigotry leaves me pretty much speechless.

I am sure that Colson Whitehead has penned another deserved hit with The Nickel Boys and I hope that the novel will open many discussions around the issues it raises. This particular story may be set over half a century ago, but sadly we cannot yet say that this never happens any more.